Enfield PZC to reopen sports complex hearing

Susan Danseyar, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·2 min read

May 10—ENFIELD — The Planning and Zoning Commission will reopen a public hearing Thursday on rezoning a Brainard Road property for the proposed All Sports Village after tabling it in order to review opinions by the developer's attorney.

Some PZC members remain concerned with approving a zone change from residential to business regional and what might happen to the parcel should the project not go forward and developer Andrew Borgia of Fast Track Realty decides not to purchase the property.

Borgia is planning to buy the 3.78-acre farmland parcel at 113 Brainard Road to merge with the adjacent MassMutual campus on 100 Bright Meadow Boulevard for a sports complex that also would include a hotel, restaurant, and entertainment center.

He told the PZC during its first public hearing April 13 that the zoning change is vital to moving his project forward. Financing requirements for All Sports Village dictate that the complex have 11 soccer fields, Borgia said, and the Brainard Road parcel would allow squaring off the former MassMutual campus and eventually making it part of the complex to accommodate those fields.

When the issue was tabled for a second time on April 27, Carl Landolina, the attorney who is representing Borgia, said the current owners of 113 Brainard Road submitted an affidavit to officials, stating they have no intention of having their property rezoned if the proposed project does not go forward.

He said there are several safeguards for the PZC in this case, including that the property would not qualify for development on its own, no matter what the zone, because it does not meet acreage requirements.

Moreover, Landolina said, the PZC can stipulate certain conditions on zoning applications such as requiring a notation on the zone change map stating that the Brainard Road parcel would be merged with the MassMutual complex.

PZC Chairman Lewis Fiore asked Landolina if he would be willing to write his opinions for the members to read and consider.

"You have given us good information and I'm interested in your opinions, but am not ready to vote," he said.

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